ANNOUNCEMENTS
- RODEO LANDSCAPING: Come and help plant Vegetables for the raised beds on Mon, Feb 4 and plants from Colorspot on Tue, Feb 5. Please email Barbara Lutz at or call 210-699-0663 to volunteer to help with landscaping or for more information.
- Still have open shifts to fill for the Master Gardener Booth/Plant Sales, for Docents/Greeters, and especially the Watering Team! Please go the the Rodeo page on our website, and sign up for a shift or two, or additional shifts if you have already signed up. You can also access the page using the Button on the Home Page!
- The FINAL RODEO SHIFT COORDINATOR TRAINING session will be held in large MG Meeting room on Tue, Feb 5, 10am -Noon.
- Please continue to collect plastic bags for Rodeo Plant Sales. When you come for a Rodeo shift, bring the bags along with you! Thanks!
Don’t Miss the First Seminar in the 2019 Earth-Kind Home Gardening Series! Register now online!
Next Weds, Feb 6, at 6:30pm in the Master Gardener’s classroom at 3355 Cherry Ridge, join BCMG Bill Swantner for Soils, Composts, and Mulches.
- This seminar will help you understand the soil in your yard and how adding to your soil can result in healthier plants and thicker lawns, with less water, less fertilizer. Bexar County has 3 primary kinds of soil, you’ll learn what kind of soil is in your yard and what to do to to improve it.
- Buying compost is like buying a car: there are so many choices, each making claims. Come, see what fits your project. And, mulch is more than leaving leaves in the flower bed.
- There are at least 3 kinds of mulch, each serving a different purpose. And, time permitting, get the dirt on potting soil: which ones to buy, and which ones to avoid. After this seminar, you will be the neighborhood expert.
Great training for new homeowners and residents of Bexar County; cost is $75/series or $15/session.
Staff Support for CEA-Hort Office: Seeking one volunteer two to three times a month at the Bexar County Extension office (3355 Cherry Ridge Ste. 212). Duties include, but not limited to: tally sign in sheets, obtain precinct information, data entry, extract/maintain MG spreadsheet programs sessions. Please email Denise Perez,,or call 210-631-0400, if interested.
SPREAD THE WORD! 2019 Spring Youth Garden Educator Training is set for Sat, Mar 2, from 9am to 2pm at Northside Activity Center, 7001 Culebra Rd, 78238. Designed for teachers, educators, and volunteers to support youth gardening in the classroom and community. See Flyer for details!
Applications are now being accepted for the BCMG 2019-2020 Scholarship in Horticultural Studies. This scholarship provides financial support to an undergraduate or graduate student at a Texas college or university who is pursuing a degree in Horticultural Sciences, Landscape Design, Turfgrass Management, or any affiliated “Green Industry” area. All the details and the scholarship application are available on the BCMG website. Applications must be submitted by April 30, 2019.
IS COMING !!
Our Earth-Friendly Gardening & Landscaping Seminar will take place Sat, Mar 23, from 8am to 1pm at the University of The Incarnate Word Dr. Burton E. Grossman International Conference Center (ICC), 847 E. Hildebrand, 78212.
Nine 1-hour workshops, and interactive Expo and vendor area, gardening hand-tool sharpening, and more are offered. Admission is free; workshops are $15 for a set of three. Our website Cultivate! page will have all the details, pre-registration (soon), and driving & parking directions.
BCMGs, (if you have not done so already!) please pay your 2019 Annual Membership Dues of $25, either online or by mail not later than tomorrow, January 31, 2019. Visit the Membership Dues page on the BCMG website for details and to pay online!
Birdies for Charity® was created in 1997 as a way to give participating charities and schools the opportunity to generate contributions through the Valero Texas Open, the third oldest tournament on the PGA Tour schedule. 100% of the funds raised go back to participating organizations. And we are one of them!
How It Works: Friends, family, and even your company can contribute using our custom link. 100% of the donations made to BCMG through this program benefit us AND Valero matches 7%. So we get 107% of donations made! You can also use the paper Birdies forms you may have received at the Rodeo Kick-Off meeting on Jan 17th,and other Master Gardeners will receive paper forms by mail soon.
Incentives: Any individual or business that donates $1,000+ becomes a member of the Birdies Club and will receive four (4) “Good Any One Day” general admission tickets to the tournament emailed through Ticketmaster. In addition, you will be recognized on a sponsor sign displayed at the Donation Stations located at both the main and VIP spectator entrances during tournament week, April 4-7, 2019.
To add spice to the program, you can guess how many birdies will be made during the Valero Texas Open. If your guess is correct, you could win a Stay-and Play Package to JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country and TPC San Antonio. In the event of a tie, a tie-breaker event will determine the winner. If no one guesses correctly, the computer will randomly select a winner… and it may just pick your name!
Donors have the ability and flexibility to pay in advance or to be billed after the tournament. Donations are accepted from anywhere around the world and are tax deductible. The 2019 fundraising program is underway and concludes April 12, 2019.
REGISTRATIONS OPEN FOR 2019 PROGRAMS
Registration OPEN for the Spring 2019 Children’s Vegetable Garden Program at SABOT. Program will include sixteen Saturdays from March 2nd to June 15th. Please share with family & friends!
Registration ALSO OPEN for the Spring 2019 Children’s Vegetable Garden Program at Phil Hardberger Park. This program is designed for families who are home schooling and will meet Tuesdays, 9-11:30am, from March 5th to June 11th. Families can register online. Please share with family & friends!
Registration for the 2019 TGMA Conference is underway for the April 25-27, 2019 event being hosted by Victoria County Master Gardener Association. Great speakers, plenty of good food, wonderful tours and garden-crafty workshops are planned for you! Registration now thru Feb 28 = $175; from Mar 1 to Apr 1 = $200. Leadership training will be held on April 24th. Visit the Conference website for tons of information!
The 17th biennial conference for the international master gardener community, Penn’s Woods: Digging into Our Roots, will be held June 17-21, 2019 at the Valley Forge Casino Resort, Valley Forge, PA. Online registration is now open and you can subscribe to the IMGC newsletter for conference updates.
Landscape Design Study Courses are held in conjunction with the Texas Garden Clubs, Inc. and Texas AgriLife Extension Service. They are offered in four separate schools, approximately six months apart, in the Bryan-College Station area. Participants may take the four courses in any sequence. Series XXVI, Course II will be held February 25-26. Offered in four parts, the full course totals 48 CEUs and qualifies Master Gardeners for the designation of “Landscape Design Steward.” Get all the details online! If you are a BCMG and have completed all four parts of the course, please email a photo of your certificate to the CommTeam so your name can be added to the Advanced Training page on the BCMG website. And, if you plan to participate in this course of study, please make a note to notify the CommTeam when you complete all four sessions.
SIGN-UP for VOLUNTEER EVENTS using the Event Calendar in the VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM – VMS. Find number of volunteers still needed, who has signed up, Project Code and even request an event reminder! REMEMBER: If you volunteer for any event and have a last minute change of plans, please contact the coordinator listed on VMS to let them know!
Volunteer Orientation for the Children’s Vegetable Garden Program at SABOT will be on Sat, Feb 23 at 11am at the San Antonio Botanical Garden Educational Room. Hope to see everyone at the Volunteer Orientation and invite anyone who might be interested in being a Garden Mentor. The spring session of the Children’s Vegetable Garden Program starts on Saturday, March 2 and concludes on Saturday, June 15 and will focus on growing “warm weather” crops. Email David Rodriguez volunteer. More about the CVGP online.
Volunteer Orientation for the Children’s Vegetable Garden Program at Phil Hardberger Park will be held Tue, Feb 26 at 10 am at Phil Hardberger Park, Voelker Homestead area. To volunteer, email Kathy Breniman,
INSECT EXPO: Molly Keck is hosting an Insect Expo on Tue, Feb 26, & Wed, Feb 27 (set-up on Mon, Feb 25) at the McKenna Children’s Museum, 801 W San Antonio St, New Braunfels, TX 78130. Designed as a fun interactive learning experience for the students and an opportunity for “hands on” learning, students will have time to explore and learn from each topic, ask questions and learn by experience. These are our future botanists, entomologists, environmental and conservation advocates, professors, teachers, and agricultural leaders. Training for booth events will take place Thu, Feb 21. For details, and to sign up, please visit: https://txmg.org/comal/projects/insect-expo/ To get a great idea of this awesome event, view this YouTube Video. Email Molly Keck if you have any questions!
MGs Who Completed SABOT Culinary Docent Training!
VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED: 10am – 1pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays January thru March. VMS has all dates/times for sign-ups!
Still Open in February: 1st (Fri), 2nd (Sat), 7th (Thu), 9th (Sat), 15th (Fri), 16th (Sat), 21st (Thu), 22nd (Fri), 23rd (Sat), 28th (Thu) [ plus most dates in March–see VMS]
Email President Grace Emery if you would like to train as a Culinary Docent and volunteer for this great program!
Come and provide BCMG Monthly Meeting Support: Arrive one hour before meeting start time to help set up the general monthly meeting room, sign-in sheets and distribute raffle tickets and meeting information. Assist with the plant sales and plant information. After the meeting help in cleaning up the meeting room and place the items back in the master garden office for the monthly meeting. Need volunteers for March thru November meetings! Contact President Grace Emery if you have any questions. Sign up on VMS!
Coming up in March for Youth Gardens Program
- Still need 7 volunteers to help set up breakfast and lunch for 100 teachers, organize plants outside, be a time keeper, and help the teachers for the 2019 Spring Youth Garden Educator Training on Sat, Mar 2, from 7:30am-3pm (lunch will be provided)at Northside Activity Center, 7001 Culebra Rd, 78238. Check VMS for sign-ups! Email Ruby Zavalawith any questions. Vol Code: 1200
- Need 8 volunteers each day to help pass out activities and to help students make crafts for Spring Break Camp, March 11-13, from 8am-3pm (lunch will be provided) at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Offices, 3355 Cherry Ridge Dr., 78230. We expect to have 25 students and the more adults present will make it a better learning environment for our students. Check VMS for sign-ups! Email Ruby Zavalawith any questions. Vol Code: 1200
- Help at Locke Hill Elementary, 5050 De Zavala Rd, 78249 on Wed, Mar 20, from 3-4pm to educate our local youth about gardening, insects, soil, and veggies! Need two volunteers to facilitate the Veggie Game lesson. Email Ruby Zavala for details. Code 1200 – Youth
FOR ALL OUR GARDENING FRIENDS!
If you have thought about becoming a Master Gardener, start planning for Master Gardener Intern Training Class 63.
- Class 63 starts August 21, 2019; classes meet every Wednesday from Noon – 4 pm for 13 weeks
- Cost: $260 payable in full on the 1st day of class
- Application available online early May (BCMG website)
- Application deadline: June 17, 2019
- Approved applications must attend a group interview (Group Interviews in July)
- For more information visit Bexar County Master Gardeners website at www.bexarmg.org or Bexar County website at https://bexar-tx.tamu.edu
LET’S RODEO!!
(Feb 7 -24; Construction Underway thru Feb 6)
WE DEFINITELY NEED YOU! We still have a number of open shifts to fill: Master Gardener Booth/Plant Sales, Docents/Greeters, and especially the Watering Team! Please go the the Rodeo page on our website, and sign up for a shift or two, or additional shifts if you have already signed up.
RODEO LANDSCAPING: Come and help plant Vegetables for the raised beds on Mon, Feb 4 and plants from Colorspot on Tue, Feb 5. Please email Barbara Lutz at or call 210-699-0663 to volunteer to help with landscaping or for more information.
Our Key Rodeo Contacts: Construction, Rich Geisler (Construction Dates: NOW thru Feb 6); Van Drivers, Brian and Candy Roach (shifts filled; need back-up drivers); Hospitality, Susan Noonan; Watering Team Lead, Ted Ritchie., and Mary Mangiapane, Volunteer Coordinator for all other Rodeo Volunteer Shifts (Plant Sales/MG Booth – Greeters – School Tour Docents – Adopt-a-Tree – and more!)
NEW for 2019 Rodeo – Plant Sale Shift Coordinator Position! Each shift will have one MG: to coordinate MG volunteers of that shift; to be responsible for proper money handling procedures; to help with iPad use; to guide MGs in maintaining a clean and attractive area, etc. One final RODEO SHIFT COORDINATOR TRAINING session will be held Tue, Feb 5, 10am -Noon in large MG Meeting room. All MGs working the Plant Sale are encouraged to attend even if you do not plan to be a Shift Coordinator, and at a minimum read the information on the 2019 Rodeo Page for MG Plant Sale Volunteers. Direct any questions to Grace Emery or Lynn Cox, Rodeo Plant Sale Coordinators.
Now Available: 2019 Rodeo Tomato Brochure
Take a few minutes and learn all about the Harris Moran—8849 Tomato!
WEBSITE RODEO VOLUNTEERING 2019 PAGE (under the Members tab on the home page menu bar) can be accessed directly from the button on our homepage!
You’ll find ALL the BCMG Rodeo information and updates there.
NOTE! Add to your Contacts List: Shuttle Driver number for the entire Rodeo is (210) 319-9997.
And, please continue to collect plastic bags for Rodeo Plant Sales. When you come for a Rodeo shift, bring the bags along with you! Thanks!
2019 BCMG VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (VMS) CODES ARE POSTED ON THE BCMG WEBSITE FOR EASY REFERENCE WITH DIRECT ACCESS TO VMS FROM THE SAME PAGE!
SPECIAL NOTE: CEU Code 001 now includes programs presented by all certified Texas Master Gardeners and programs at the TMGA State Conferences, as well as the International MG Conferences.
See all the Details for Classes in the Bexar County area on the MG Calendar! Classes listed below may be of special interest to you:
Head to the San Antonio Garden Center Meeting at 3310 N New Braunfels,78209.on Wed, Feb 6, for. 9:30am Social and 10am meeting. Peggy Jones, Guadalupe County Master Gardener, will share her expertise in how to select, grow and maintain beautiful roses in her presentation, February is for Roses. 1 CEU; Code 001.
BROWN BAG – LUNCH & LEARN FOR FEBRUARY: Learn all about Growing a Spring Vegetable Garden with MG John Sells on Fri, Feb 8, at noon in the County Extension Office, Suite 208. 1 CEU, Code 001.
February BCMG Educational Seminar: Hear Robbi Will discuss how easy it is to successfully grow Roses: “If dead people can grow them, you can too!” Mark your calendar for Thu, Feb 21, 1-3pm at 3355 Cherry Ridge, Suite 208, 78230.
Learn from Master Gardeners at these 2019 Speakers Bureau Presentations:
- Growing Herbs with Don Crites, hosted by San Antonio OASIS at 2201 St. Cloud, 78228 on Wed, Feb 13, 10:30am – Noon. 1.5 CEUs, Code: 001
- Xeriscaping with Oliver Smith, hosted by San Antonio OASIS, at 2201 St. Cloud, 78228 on Tue, Apr 16, from 10:30am – Noon. 1.5 CEUs, Code: 001
BE SURE TO MARK YOUR 2019 CALENDAR FOR THESE GREAT CLASSES!
AND OUR NEW LUNCH TIME TREATS!
And remember, you can find all the TEXAS MASTER GARDENER ADVANCED (formerly Specialist) COURSES offered at the TMGA website. If you are interested in attending any courses, please email David Rodriguez, Extension Agent-Horticulture, Bexar County. BCMG CEU Code: 001.
Home Fruit (South Texas) – Feb. 7-8, 2019, hosted by Gonzales County, Gonzales
Vegetables – Feb. 13-15, 2019, hosted by Dallas County, Dallas
Tree Care – Mar. 13-15, 2019, hosted by Dallas County, Dallas
Tree Care – Jun. 12-14, 2019, hosted by Kerr County, Kerrville
Turfgrass – Mar. 14-15, 2019, hosted by Montgomery County, Conroe
Earth-Kind® – May 16-18, 2019, hosted by Henderson County, Athens
Vegetables – Aug. 13-15, 2019, hosted by Bexar County, San Antonio
Landscape Design School: Series XXVI, Course II will be held February 25-26, in College Station. Offered in four parts, this course totals 48 CEUs and qualifies Master Gardeners for the designation of “Landscape Design Steward.” Get all the details online!
Great Gardening Events on the BCMG February Calendar. Bookmark the Calendar and visit it frequently! Here is a sample of what is coming up.
- Feb 2 – Invaders of Texas Workshop: Invasive Plants ID, Management, & GPS Reporting
- Feb 2 – Pond Education Seminar: Bog Filtration
- Feb 5 – Ecosystem Management of the Edwards Plateau’s Kerr WMA
- Feb 6 – Hill Country Native Plant Working Workshop
- Feb 6 – Growing Paphiopedilums According to The Huntington
- Feb 7 – Spring Garden Planting
- Feb 8 – Family Flashlight Night at SABOT
Visit the San Antonio Botanical Garden for an opening reception on Thu, Jan 31, 5:30– 7:30pm for the work of a young emerging Mexican artist, Alejandro Martin, AKA “Otto.” Six of Otto’s five-foot sculptures will be exhibited at the Garden from January 2019 through January 2020. Free and open to the public.
Help Out With Can Collection!!
Molly Keck is looking for large, clean, empty cans with tops removed (larger than typical veggie can sizes; metal, plastic or cardboard) for building native pollinator homes for an educational program. Please drop off at the Bexar County Extension Office, 3355 Cherry Ridge, Suite 212 (or in Suite 208 if you are there attending a meeting anyway!). Collecting December through March!
For SAWS customers, check out Watersaver Coupons & Rebates! And, watch for news on the WaterSaver Rewards 2019 program; no re-registration for 2019; keep using your same rewards number for 2019 at the events you attend and your points started as “0” on Jan 1.